'Job Fair' for persons with disabilities held

More than thirty major companies participated in "Job Fair for persons with disabilities", organized by Network of Organizations Working with People with Disabilities (NOWPDP).

Over 30 major companies in Pakistan participated in the fair and hundreds of persons with different disabilities attended the fair to interact with these companies and drop their CVs for any prospective openings. The companies belonged to all major sectors of Pakistan including the banking, textile, pharmaceutical sectors.

The event was made fully accessible for all persons with disabilities ranging from ramps to tactile flooring for the people with physical and visual disability to manoeuvre their way around and sign language interpreters for the deaf to communicate with company representatives.

"This fair is an opportunity for the corporate sector to get to know qualified people with disabilities and also work towards being inclusive - as is mandated by the law of the federal and the provincial governments," said Saleem, who had been working for more than 20 years before acquiring a disability and losing his job.

Senior Manager Talen Acquisition at HBL, Quratulain Rajput appreciated the event and said there was a need for the corporate sector to truly understand persons with disabilities' abilities and the kind of jobs they would be perfect for.

"We would like to shortlist candidates with disabilities and give them opportunities in our company so that we can also move towards more inclusion", said Muhammad Eshan from Lucky Textile Mill.

Omair Ahmad, the Executive Director of NOWPDP, said that there is 5% employment quota for people with disabilities in the province of Sindh. Similarly, other provinces have set quotas as well.

"What we are looking for now is the implementation of laws and hope that this event give corporate sector an incentive to work towards disability inclusion and subsequently become legally compliant to the law," he believed.

Yasir Siddiqui, Head of Employee Relations from Faysal Bank said, "There is a sense of urgency in the banking sector, especially after the State Bank circular regarding disability inclusion.

He noted that there is a lack of educational opportunities for persons with disabilities but till that gap is filled; companies should welcome people with disabilities with an open heart. Faysal Bank plans to be more inclusive and accessible by the next year, he added. Representatives of Shell, Kamila and Sarah said that their companies also emphasize heavily on infrastructural accessibility.